51 Iowa 670 | Iowa | 1879
It is urged that under this section, where a public patient has no estate, his “relations,” no matter how remote, are bound to reimburse the county for his support at the hospital. To adopt such a construction would give a very wide range to claims of this character, and create liabilities which certainly never were contemplated by the legislative mind. The word “relatives,” as used in the first clause of the section, and “relatives, ” as used in the last clause, must be construed to mean the persons from whom the county may collect such claims; that is, “persons legally bound” for the support of the insane person. A father is not legally bound to support his adult children at common law, nor under the statutes of this State. They owe him no service, and are as free from his restraint as though there were no kinship. He is no more liable on their account than a stranger, excepting as provided in chapter 1, title 11, of the Code, which provides for the support of the poor. It is not claimed in this case that at the time the defendant’s son was sent to the hospital he was a pauper, nor that he was a county charge, nor that he ever has been, within the meaning of chapter 1, title 11. That chapter only has reference to relief for the poor; that is, to such as apply to the proper authorities for relief because of poverty.
Affirmed.